By Joseph Mary Buwule
Fort Portal City – The Omukama of Tooro Kingdom, His Majesty Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, has launched a five-day Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign aimed at protecting young children against the highly infectious and potentially dangerous diseases.
The campaign was launched on Thursday at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal City, with health authorities targeting children aged nine months to below five years.
Speaking during the launch, the Omukama called upon parents, guardians and caregivers across the Tooro region to take advantage of the vaccination exercise and ensure that all eligible children receive the vaccine.
The Omukama emphasized that vaccination remains an important measure in protecting children against preventable diseases and urged families not to miss the opportunity provided through the campaign.
He also called upon the media to play a central role in mobilizing communities by widely publicizing the exercise and providing parents and caregivers with accurate information on where and when they can access vaccination services.
The campaign comes as health authorities and their partners intensify efforts to reach children in communities and strengthen immunisation coverage.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause serious complications, particularly among young children. Rubella, while often mild in children, can have serious consequences when contracted by pregnant women because it can affect an unborn baby.
Health officials are therefore encouraging parents and caregivers to ensure that children within the targeted age group are taken to designated vaccination centres during the five-day exercise.
The launch at Karuziika Palace also highlighted the important role cultural institutions can play in supporting public health programmes and mobilising communities.
Through his appeal, the Omukama encouraged families throughout Tooro to participate in the campaign and support efforts to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The five-day exercise is expected to reach eligible children across communities in the Tooro region, with health workers and other stakeholders involved in community mobilisation and vaccination activities.
Parents and caregivers with children aged nine months to below five years have been urged to seek information from health workers and take their children to designated vaccination points during the campaign period.
The involvement of the Tooro Kingdom leadership is expected to enhance community awareness and encourage greater participation in the vaccination exercise, while the media has been urged to ensure that timely and accurate information about the campaign reaches as many families as possible.
With the exercise running for five days, parents and caregivers are encouraged to act promptly and ensure that eligible children receive the vaccination within the campaign period.
